Deborah Ho is the Country Head of Singapore and Head of Southeast Asia for BlackRock.

Based in Singapore, Deborah is responsible for a wide-ranging portfolio in markets across South East Asia. This includes delivering the breadth and depth of BlackRock’s capabilities to clients in the region.

Deborah is a member of BlackRock’s Asia Pacific Steering and Executive committees. She was the APAC Chair of the Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) from 2018-2022 and has had extensive experience at the helm of various women’s and leadership networks in the financial industry in Asia and continues to champion gender equality in the workplace.

Deborah has over 30 years of experience in Investment Banking and Asset Management and is on the committee of the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism. She is a Board Member of the Singapore Land Transport Authority and is a trustee on the board of the Singapore Management University.

Deborah is passionate about developing leaders in the financial services industry in Asia. She represents BlackRock on the Financial Centre Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) which consists of the most senior representatives of the top financial institutions in Singapore. She is co-chair of the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association, an industry group convened by the MAS to accelerate the development of green and transition finance.

Deborah was conferred the 2022 IBF Distinguished Fellow Title, a testament of her contributions to Singapore’s financial sector. She was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by the Markets Media Group in 2021 Women in Finance Asia Awards for her contribution to female talent development in the finance industry.

Wong Kee Joo is the Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Singapore.

Kee Joo has more than two and a half decades of experience in the banking industry in Singapore, UK, China, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Prior to his appointment as CEO of Singapore in June 2021, Kee Joo was HSBC’s Asia Pacific Regional Head of Global Liquidity and Cash Management and led the bank’s delivery of integrated cash management solutions to multinational corporations, mid-market enterprises, small businesses and financial institutions across the region.

Before that, Kee Joo was Head of Global Liquidity and Cash Management for China and prior to that, Thailand. In both markets, he was responsible for leading the execution of HSBC’s growth, investment and emerging markets strategy.

Kee Joo is Co-Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Singapore Sustainable Finance Association, Vice Chairman of the Association of Banks in Singapore, council member of the Singapore Business Federation, Advisory Board member of Climate Governance Singapore, Singapore Green Finance Centre and National Youth Achievement Award Singapore.

Ms Gillian Tan is the Assistant Managing Director of the Development and International Group and Chief Sustainability Officer, overseeing the development of Singapore as an international financial centre as well as MAS’ sustainability strategies and international relations.

Prior to this appointment, Ms Tan was Executive Director of the Financial Markets Development Department, focussing on the development of the capital market, asset management and insurance sectors as well as sustainable finance capabilities and solutions in Singapore. She was also tasked with setting up MAS’ Enforcement Department, which is responsible for investigating breaches of anti-money laundering regulations, market misconduct offences and other laws administered by MAS, and served as its Executive Director from 2016-2019.

Ms Tan previously worked in the Supreme Court of Singapore as a Justices’ Law Clerk, Assistant Registrar and Magistrate, and was subsequently appointed as a District Judge of the State Courts of Singapore. She served as a Deputy Public Prosecutor and Deputy Senior State Counsel in the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a number of years.

Ms Tan co-chairs the Private Banking Industry Group, the Singapore Funds Industry Group and the Human Resources Industry Group. She serves on the Steering Committee of the Green Finance Industry Taskforce and the Advisory Boards of the Singapore Green Finance Centre and the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute, which conduct multi-disciplinary research and talent development in sustainability and sustainable finance. Ms Tan is also a Board Member of Infrastructure Asia, which supports Asia’s social and economic growth through infrastructure development. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Monetary Fund’s Singapore Regional Training Institute.

Ms Tan graduated from Cambridge University with a First Class Honours in Law. She also holds a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School. She was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2018 in recognition of her contributions to public service.

Mrs Ong-Ang Ai Boon is the Director of The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS). She was appointed in 1982 and has since led the ABS with her extensive regulatory and operational experience in the banking industry.

Mrs Ong started her career in banking in 1969. Prior to her position at ABS, Mrs Ong was with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) from 1971 till 1981 where she held several key positions during her tenure.

The Association represents the interests of the banking industry (both local and foreign banks: 154 and among other functions, work to establish a sound banking structure in Singapore in collaboration and consultation with MAS and other government bodies.

Ms Liu Chunyen was appointed to AIA Singapore’s Executive Committee as its Chief Investment Officer in March 2017, and is responsible for spearheading the success of the company’s investment strategies. This includes developing and enhancing AIA Singapore’s investment performances, asset and liability management, insurance product solutioning, as well as ILP funds development.

Additionally, she is passionate about promoting sustainable investing and lift styles and engages the industry associations to uplift the relevant capabilities.

Having been with AIA since 2008, Chunyen has undertaken numerous roles across multiple geographies including the position of Head of Financial Risk and Risk Metrics with AIA Group in Hong Kong prior to her pursuing her current CIO in Singapore. Chunyen was also previously based in New York in her role as Market Risk Manager with AIG Inc.

A Chartered Financial Analyst, Chunyen holds a Master of Arts in Economics (New York University, USA) and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Investment (Baruch College, the City University of New York, USA).

She is practitioner of mediation and yoga and a stronger believer in mental wellness.

Mr. Chen Xiang was appointed as the Deputy General Manager of Bank of China Singapore Branch in July 2022. He is concurrently the General Manager of Bank of China Innovation Lab (Singapore).

Mr. Chen Xiang joined Bank of China in 2004. He held different positions in Assets and Liabilities Management Department and Executive Office in Head Office. Mr. Chen joined Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited in 2011, where he was a Senior Manager in Corporate Banking, Financial Institutions and Product Management (CBFI) and Assistant General Manager in Global Corporate Banking Department. Mr. Chen was appointed as the Managing Director of Bank of China Manila Branch in 2017, and Deputy Country Head in 2021.

Mr. Chen Xiang graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature. He earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Tsinghua University and Master of Science in Wealth Management from Singapore Management University.

Helge is the Chief Sustainability Officer at DBS. He is responsible for developing DBS’ overarching sustainability framework and driving sustainability initiatives across the bank. He acts as Secretary to the bank’s Board Sustainability Committee, and chairs the Group Sustainability Council, which comprises senior leaders across business and support units.

Helge represents DBS in several global and regional bodies and working groups such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the technical committee of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), which will develop its first global reporting sector guidance for banks, the Industry Advisory Panel of the ASEAN’s Joint Sustainable Finance Working Group, the Green Skills Committee convened by Singapore’s Ministry of Trade & Industry in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore or Singapore’s Sustainability Reporting Advisory Committee. He is also appointed as alternate director in Climate Impact X Pte Ltd, a Singapore based global carbon market and exchange, and sits on the Impact Advisory Panel of the Asia Impact First Fund.

Prior to joining DBS, Helge was Head of Asia Pacific, Sustainable Finance and Global Capital Markets at ING, where he worked for 10 years. In this role, he successfully grew the bank’s regional business of sustainability-related advisory services and sustainable finance transactions across products. He was also part of ING’s global Sustainable Finance and Capital Markets management teams as well as the bank’s global Sustainable Finance Quality Board. Before that, he spent more than 12 years in various roles at Deutsche Bank AG and UniCredit Group being based in different cities across Europe, the US and Asia Pacific.

Helge holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Munich University (major in Developing Economics) as well as a postgraduate degree in sustainability from Cambridge University. He is also a CFA charter holder.

Mike was appointed as Group Chief Sustainability (“CSO”) of OCBC in August 2023. In this capacity, he is responsible for OCBC’s groupwide sustainability strategy and delivering against sustainability objectives by steering the Group’s approach and managing initiatives in alignment with OCBC’s sustainability and net-zero transition roadmap. As CSO, he works closely with senior leadership, and cross-functional teams to integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into the Group’s businesses, processes, culture, reporting, stakeholder engagements and decision-making frameworks.

Prior to his appointment as CSO, Mike headed up the Sustainability Office in Global Wholesale Banking at OCBC. He was responsible for driving the sustainability strategy across the corporate and commercial banking segments, and working with clients in their transitions to a low carbon economy. Prior to joining the Sustainability Office, Mike headed up the project and structured financing business in OCBC, where he originated and executed project financing, cross-border export financing, and event-driven financing across a wide range of industries including renewable energy and utilities, telecommunication and general infrastructure.

Before joining OCBC, Mike was in the project and structured financing business units in various financial institutions including Royal Bank of Scotland (Hong Kong) and ABN AMRO (Hong Kong).

Mike graduated with a Master of Science (International Accounting and Finance) with the London School of Economics, and a Bachelor of Business (Financial Analysis) with the Nanyang Technological University.

Dennis Tan is the Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Singapore. At the Group level, he was also appointed Managing Director of the Strategic Business Group covering Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, since July 2022. In this role, Dennis is responsible for the business and operational results of the three markets.

A veteran banker, Dennis has 26 years of experience in consumer banking spanning product development, segment management, marketing and sales and distribution.

Prior to joining Prudential, Dennis was with OCBC Bank for 10 years, of which seven were spent leading a 3,100-strong consumer banking division as Head, Consumer Financial Services. Dennis also spearheaded the growth of OCBC’s Premier Banking business in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China as Head of Branch and Group Premier Banking. He was also a member of OCBC Bank’s Management Committee.

Dennis is Chairman of the Prudential Financial Advisers Singapore Pte Ltd. He is also President of the Life Insurance Association’s Management Committee, a Board member at the ASEAN Insurance Council and a Council Member at IBF Singapore.

Dennis is Singaporean. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business (Honours with Distinction) from Indiana University and has completed the Stanford Executive Programme at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He is a Certified Financial Planner.

Currently the Head of South Asia and CEO, Schroders Singapore, Lily oversees the growth of Schroders’ businesses in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, while representing the firm in the India Axis joint venture. She also co-chairs the APAC Management Committee.

Lily joined Schroders Singapore in 2008 as Head of Institutional to lead business development for the Southeast Asian institutional business. In 2017, she was appointed as Head of Distribution, Southeast Asia and was responsible for the management of the institutional and intermediary businesses, strategic priorities and partnerships across Southeast Asia.

In 2019, Lily was appointed Head of Institutional, Asia Pacific, working alongside the Country and Channel Heads to drive Schroders institutional strategy across the region, focusing on Sustainability, Solutions and Private Assets as key pillars. Subsequently in 2020, Lily was appointed as the Deputy CEO of Schroders Singapore before taking on the role of CEO in 2021.

Lily was previously a Senior Research Consultant at Mercer, overseeing Asia ex Japan equity and Asian Fixed Income manager research. She also chaired the Asia Pacific rating review committee in Mercer. Lily spent three years with Mercer.

Prior to Mercer, she was with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation from 1998 to 2004. At the GIC, she was responsible for appointing and managing external fund managers in public markets to enhance investment returns, capabilities and harness investment insights.

Lily’s investment career commenced when she joined the GIC in 1998. Lily holds a Bachelor of Science from National University of Singapore and is a CFA Charterholder.

Ms Herry Cho joined the Singapore Exchange (SGX Group) in February 2021 and drives SGX Group’s sustainability and sustainable finance strategic direction and implementation, to transform SGX Group and its ecosystem into a world-class, trusted multi-asset sustainable exchange.

Ms. Cho currently serves on the steering group for Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), is a member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Finance Disclosure (TNFD), and is on the Management Advisory Board of the National University of Singapore’s Sustainable and Green Finance Institute.

Prior to this, Ms Cho pioneered in the development of Asia Pacific’s sustainable finance markets, in her former role as the Head of Sustainable Finance APAC at an international European bank from 2017. She further helped shape the international market standards having served on the Executive Committee of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA)’s Green/Social Bond Principles. Ms Cho leverages on a broad financial background in Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory, Capital Structuring and Advisory, and Equity & Debt Capital Markets.

Based in Singapore, Ms Cho has previously worked in Hong Kong, London and Amsterdam and holds a combined Bachelors and Masters (MBioch) Degree in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry from the University of Oxford, UK.

As Cluster CEO Singapore and ASEAN Markets, Patrick is responsible for steering and executing business development and strategy for the Bank in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. These are key strategic markets for the Standard Chartered Bank Group, and Singapore is home to the Bank’s global businesses and Technology & Operations functions.

Before assuming this role, Patrick was CEO Singapore, and Head of Global Banking, Singapore, where he was responsible for the Bank’s corporate and institutional client businesses.

Before joining Standard Chartered in 2012, Patrick was Managing Director, Head of Southeast Asia Investment Banking at Nomura. Prior to that, he was Head of Singapore/Malaysia Investment Banking at UBS and Executive Director, Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley. He has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, including corporate and investment banking, product and sector coverage, and has worked in Singapore, Hong Kong and London.

Patrick is a Co-Founder and Board Director of Leap Philanthropy Ltd, a Singapore-based charity active in Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar. He is also a Board Director of Clifford Capital (established as a specialist provider of structured finance solutions). He is an Executive Committee member of Singapore Trade Data Exchange Services Pte Ltd (SGTraDex), and serves on the Board of Climate Impact X Pte Ltd as an Alternate Director. In 2022, Patrick was named an ‘IBF Distinguished Fellow’ by the Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) Singapore for his contributions to the growth and development of the financial sector.

Patrick graduated with BA (First Class Honors) and MA in English from Trinity College, Cambridge.

Franziska Zimmermann is Director for Sustainability & Climate Change Strategy at Temasek. She leads the development of Temasek’s overarching sustainability strategy to advance net zero, nature positive and inclusive growth. She also spearheads external engagements with relevant international institutions, global investor alliances as well as think tanks and business networks.

Since joining the firm in 2015, Franziska played a pioneering role in establishing and implementing the firm wide ESG programme, defining an ambitious climate change agenda, forming an external sustainability advisory group as well as an engagement platform for portfolio companies on sustainability.

Before joining Temasek, Franziska held senior positions in publicly listed multinational companies across Europe and Asia where she gained critical insight into different industries, including agriculture, healthcare, consumer and industrials. She joined the private sector after almost a decade working with the Swiss government where she focused on advancing international trade and economic development cooperation.

Franziska holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Bern, Switzerland. She serves as a member of the ESG Committee of the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) as well as the Expert Panel on ESG and Sustainable Investing at Singapore’s Wealth Management Institute (WMI).

Mr Eric Lim is Managing Director and the Chief Sustainability Officer at United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB). His role is to drive UOB’s sustainability strategy and objectives of helping businesses and individuals transition to a sustainable future and fostering social and environmental well-being among colleagues and communities.

Eric was also the Head of Group Finance from 2013 to 2022, where he was responsible for the Bank’s core finance functions spanning financial strategy, capital management, regulatory and financial reporting, tax management, business finance and performance management.

Eric holds positions in key UOB management committees, including Chairperson of the Group Sustainability Committee. He is also a member of the Management Committee and the Asset and Liability Committee, and holds directorships in UOB affiliated companies.

Prior to joining UOB, Eric was Managing Director and Head of Wholesale Banking Finance, Singapore and Southeast Asia for Standard Chartered Bank, responsible for driving the strategic partnership between the wholesale business and finance teams. During this time, Eric led the finance functions covering commercial banking, financial markets and investment banking.

Eric began his career with GE Capital where he took on various executive positions in the areas of financial planning and analysis, mergers and acquisitions, audit and controllership. He lived and worked in more than 20 countries, with particular focus in the USA and Japan during that time.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from the Nanyang Technological University and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

Albert Tse is CEO of Amundi South Asia since 1 November 2021. Albert was most recently Head of Distribution Sales and Marketing for Amundi in South Asia since 2019. Prior to that he was Head of Intermediary Business of Southeast Asia and Head of Malaysia & Thailand Businesses at Schroders. Albert joined Schroders in 2003 as a member of the Mutual Funds Retail sales team for Singapore. In 2008, He was appointed as Head of Intermediary Distribution, Singapore and in 2010 he assumed wider responsibilities as Head of Intermediary Business, Southeast Asia. He was also responsible for private banks business development in Asia from 2014 to 2017. Prior to joining Schroders, Albert spent 2 years at Barclays Capital in Singapore with the Foreign Exchange and Derivatives sales desk.

Albert holds a Bachelor Degree in Business from the Nanyang Technological University and a Master Degree in Finance from University of Manchester Institute of Information & Technology (UMIST) and Manchester Business School (MBS). He is also a CFA and CAIA Charterholder.

Albert has been an IBF Fellow since 2018 and the Chairman of the IMAS Human Capital Committee since 2012, starting out as a member since 2005.

Valerie Lau, CFA is Co Head Sustainable Finance APAC where she is responsible for driving Sustainable Finance initiatives across the firm in APAC. Her focus is on client engagement, capacity building, and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders. She sits on the Executive Committee of the Singapore Sustainable Finance Association, represents UBS on the Sustainability Forum of the Private Banking Industry Group, and also sits on the Advisory Board of the Singapore Green Finance Centre.

Prior to this role, she led a team of bankers in Global Wealth Management and advised High Net Worth clients in growing their wealth. She also headed the Office of the Divisional Vice Chairman, and has advised regulators on developing the wealth management industry. A versatile leader and veteran communicator, Valerie spent a decade in the leading financial and economic agencies of the Singapore government. Her last role was Division Head, Debt Capital Market and Treasury division at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. She started her career as Research Economist with the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry.

She graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science where she was a Singapore Public Service Commission scholar, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst and CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing holder. She is Treasurer on the School Advisory Committee of Cedar Girls’ Secondary School.

Angelia Chin-Sharpe is a veteran in the financial services industry, and has over 20 years of experience in banking, capital markets and asset management. Since joining BNP Paribas Asset Management in 2007 as Head of the Malaysia business – an entity she set up and developed then – she also led the Southeast Asia Institutional Sales team between 2010 and 2012 from the Singapore office; before moving back to Malaysia as CEO of the local business.

As BNP Paribas Asset Management’s Singapore CEO, she is responsible for accelerating and strengthening the firm’s Southeast Asia business interests, while driving its sustainable solution offerings across the market’s clients groups; and ensuring continuity and maintaining focus on delivering sustainable investment returns for clients in the targeted region.

Angelia holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting from Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia. She completed her Chartered Islamic Finance Professional exams with INCEIF and is registered as a Chartered Professional in Islamic Finance (CPIF) with The Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals.

Angelia was awarded JC3 Leader in Climate Change by the Joint Committee on Climate Change (JC3) Malaysia in 2023 and was named CEO of the Year for Malaysia by Asia Asset Management “2021 Best of the Best Awards”. She was one of the most influential women in Islamic banking and finance in the WOMANi2022, WOMANi2020 and WOMANi2019 reports.

Angelia has also received the Community Achievement Award 2017 from the Malaysia Australian Alumni Council for her social work at The Lost Food Project – a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing food for the needy.

Mikkel Larsen is the Chief Executive Officer of Climate Impact X (CIX). He is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of CIX, as well as developing and executing the company’s vision and mission to accelerate environmental impact at scale through carbon markets.

Mikkel was one of the early pioneers of the international Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and of Singapore’s Emerging Stronger Taskforce, a public-private partnership to establish the country as a climate services and carbon trading hub. Prior to his current role, he was Group Chief Sustainability Officer and chair of the Sustainability Council at DBS Bank. He has also held leadership positions at UBS, Citigroup and KPMG in Europe.

Mikkel is involved in numerous international sustainability-related councils and committees. These include: the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market; World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Natural Climate Solutions Alliance (NCS Alliance); and World Wildlife Fund Advisory Council (Singapore), amongst others.

Mikkel is passionate about wildlife, animal rights and nature conservation. He is a frequent speaker on sustainability related topics including green finance and voluntary carbon markets and has authored publications in these fields.

Winnie is the Senior Vice President for Sustainability at Great Eastern Holdings. She leads the corporate team who is focused on helping the business grow responsibly as the world transits to a low-carbon economy. The remit includes sustainability strategy and implementation, prioritising and navigating ESG risks and opportunities while achieving green and social impact goals.

Prior to this, Winnie has been the Head of Sustainability (ASEAN & South Asia) for Standard Chartered Bank since 2015. She was responsible for the Bank’s sustainability strategy planning and execution. With the Bank, she has earlier spent eight years in China where she helped set up the local bank subsidiary, and moved on to support the Bank’s branch expansion and later lead the sustainability and community investment portfolio.

Winnie had joined Standard Chartered Bank in 2005. She worked on the Bank’s Group and Singapore Wholesale Banking communications, before relocating to China.

Before joining the Bank, Winnie was a marketing specialist in news and publishing forms – Singapore Press Holdings, The Edge Singapore and Dow Jones & Company.

Victor Kuk is the Head of P&C Reinsurance SID, comprising Southeast Asia, India, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, at Swiss Re. Assuming the role on 1 July 2017, he is responsible for driving Swiss Re’s non-life reinsurance business in the SID markets.

Victor was also appointed Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Re Asia Pte. Ltd. (SRAL) on 1 July 2023. SRAL is a wholly owned Swiss Re Group subsidiary that conducts life and general reinsurance business in Singapore, and various other countries across Asia.

Prior to this, Victor was the Head of Hub Casualty Asia in Swiss Re, a position he held since January 2016. He brings with him more than 17 years of experience in general insurance management especially in strategic planning, operational management and business management.

Before joining Swiss Re, Victor was Chief Risk Officer of Emerging Markets at QBE Insurance Group Limited since October 2014, responsible for risk management, compliance, actuarial and reinsurance strategy to ensure prudent strategic business planning and decision making across the 23 markets in the Emerging Markets Division. Prior to that, he joined QBE Insurance Group Limited, as Chief Risk Officer, Asia Pacific in December 2012.

Victor has also held various senior positions with AXA for more than 12 years. His last roles with AXA included serving as Chief Business Development Officer and Regional Chief Executive Officer.

Outside work, Victor is a keen sailor and enjoys playing tennis regularly. He is also interested in drones, boats and fast cars.

Pearlyn was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Singapore Life Holdings Pte. Ltd. and Singapore Life Ltd. in July 2021. Pearlyn leads Singlife’s strategy, innovation and business efforts to deliver a better way to financial freedom for customers and the financial services industry.

Pearlyn cut her teeth in wealth management, digital and retail banking and has amassed over three decades of experience in the financial services field. She is well-respected amongst industry peers for being a strong leader with a digital-first mindset and having an exceptional track record of leading key strategies and business transformation initiatives.

Prior to her current appointment, she held several senior executive roles in DBS Singapore and the region.

Pearlyn sits on the board of the Housing and Development Board and the advisory board of the Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business.

She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a BA in Economics and Statistics from the National University of Singapore.